Combined driving and steering axle.



R1. SULLIVAN.

COMBINED DRIVING- AND STEERING AXLE.

MPLlCATION FILED MAY 25, 1916.

Patented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEETI F. I. SULLIVAN.

COMBINED DRIVING- AND STEERING AXLE.

APPLICATION men MAY 25. l9l6.

1,272,565. Patented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEET5SHEET 2- FRAN K J. SULLIVAN, OF CLINTONVILLE, WISCONSIN.

COMBINED DRIVING AN STEERING AXLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. SULLIVAN,

acitizen of the United States, residing at Glintonville, in the county ofWaupaca and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Driving and Steering Axles, of which the following is a specification. I My invention relates to improvements in a combined driving and steering axle.

The invention aims to provide a combined driving-and steerin axle, which is exceedingly strong, durab e, and may be retained properly lubricatedfor a prolonged period. A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, so constructed that dust, dirt or the like will be effectively excluded from the interior thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an. axle construction. of the above mentioned character, embodying inner and outer cylindrical shells, with ball bearings arranged between the ends of the shells.

A further object of'the invention is to provide apparatus of the 1 above mentioned character, formed of few and simple parts,

i which may be readily adjusted, and which may be readily separated and assembled.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the ball bearings arranged etween the relatively movable parts of the apparatus, thoroughly lubricated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals. are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention,

. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, parts being omitted,

Fig. 3 is a c'entral vertical longitudinal sectional viewthrough the apparatus, and,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 ofFig. 1

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodi ment of my invention, the numeral .5 designates a tubular axle housing or casing which is connected with the running gear of the vehicle or its body. Arranged adjacent each Specification of Letters Patent.

end of the tubular housing 5 is an inner supporting shell or member 6, which is cylindrical and preferably vertically arranged. The supporting shell or member 6 is provided with a nonrotatable tubular extension or coupling 'Z, projecting into the housing 5, and fitting snugly therein. The end of the housing 5 is flanged as shown at 8, which flange preferably has its opposite sides cut away so that an'opening 16, to be described, will not have to be made over large, to per- Patented July 36, 11918. Application filed May 25, 1916. Serial at. 99,833.

mit of the proper steering of the wheel, and this flange is rigidly attached to the supporting shell or member 6 by means of screws 9. These screws have their head-ends arranged inwardly with respect to the interior of the shell 6 and their outer ends engaged within screw-threaded openings formed in the flanged end 8 of the housing '5. By this arrangement of the screws, the same maybe employed larger than could otherwise be done. It is to be understood that any other suitable means may be employed to rigidly secure the inner shell to the housing 5.

Surrounding the inner supporting shell or member 6 is an outer supporting shell or member 10, which is cylindrical and free to turn thereon in a horizontal plane. The

outer shell 10 is formed in upperand lower shell-sections 12 and 13, the adjacent ends of which have flanges 14, connected by bolts 15. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the inner side of the outer shell 10 has an opening 16 formed therein, for receiving the housing 5 during the swinging or shifting of the wheel.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, there is an annular space 17, between the inner and outer shells, for receiving lubricant, such as a soft grease. The inner supporting shell or member 6 is provided upon its upper end with an upstanding annular flange 18, receiving therein an annular bearing- ,ball track or raceway 19. Bearing-balls 20 operate within this track and engage within a co-acting track or raceway 21, carried by an adjustablehead or plug 22, having screwthreaded engagement within an opening 23, formed in the upper outer casing section 12,

as shown. The head 22 has a preferably this bottom carries an annular track or raceway 26, receiving bearing-balls 27 en gaging a co-acting track or raceway 28 which fits within a flange 28'. The upper and lower ends of the casing sections 12 and 13 are providedwith. annular grooves 29, receiving packing-30 such as felt, as shown. The upper and lower ends, of the. inner supn porting shell or member 6 is provided with openings 31, leading into spaces or chambers 32. By the employment of co-acting cylindrical inner and outerf'shells, having horizontal or flatends, the-maximum area is oberably vof the anti-friction thrust type.

Particularattention is called tothe fact that the sides of the inner and outer shells do not constitute bearing surfaces, as they are separated by the passage 17, containing a layer or film of lubricant, and allvof the load is carried by the ends of the inner and outer shells and their respective ball-bearings.

Attention is called to the fact that the ball-- bearings may be adjusted by slight turning movement of the head or plug 22, as is obvious. r

The outer shell 10 is, provided upon its outer side with a flat annular flange or portion 33, shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Adapted to contact with this'flange 33 is a co-acting flange 34, formed upon a non-rotatable stub-shaft 35. The flange 34 isprovided with a male member or projection 36, extending into an opening 37 formed in the outer shell 10. The flan e 34 is further provided with an annularange or rib 38, extending into an annular groove 39 formed in the shell 10. .The flanges 34 and 33 are rigidly-connected by means of bolts 40 or the like. By the employment of the interfitting portions of these flanges, the

I strain or load" is taken ofl of the bolts 40,

which need only functionto hold the parts from separation. f

I The numeral 41 designates a wheel, having a tubular hub 42, which is rotatably mounted upon the stub-shaft 3 5, with roller bearings 43 arranged therebetween, as shown. There is a dust-guard or ring 44 secured to the inner end of hub'42, for closing such ends, as shown.

Extending through the housing 5 is a slots or notches 51, formed in the outer end i of the hub 42. The numeral 50 designates a cap, iriclosing the coupling 48 and having ,its inner end contacting with the out'enend of the hub This coupling is secured to the hub by screws 51, extending through openings in members 48 and 50, and'having screw-threaded engagement wlthln screwthreaded openings 52 formed in the hub.-

the universal joint or knuckle .47 serves to through the openings 31 and into the spaces 1 32. The'grease isthus continuously supplied" to the ball-bearings, retaining the same properly lubricated.

i force this .grease or. lubricant outwardly tained for the ball-bearings, which are pref- It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described 'is to be taken as a preferred example of the' same, and that. various changes in the shape,

size, and arrangement of partsmay be ire- 'sorted to without departing irom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the Sub- ,joined claims.-- v c Having thus" described the invention, 1. claim: f

1. A steering axle; comprising an inner substantially vertical substantially cylindrical shell havingupper and lower-ends;

an outer substantially vertical substantiall cylindrical shell surrounding-the inner. she I and havingan interior diameter substanj tiallygrea-ter than the exterior diameter of the inner shell, so that the-sides of the two shells are permanently out of contact", ;the outer shell being provided with upper and a lower ends; pairs of vco-actin annular tracks interposed between the ad acent ends 1 of the inner and outer shells and arranged near their eripheries and having oppositely;

arranged o lique faces; means to -rigidly at-' tach the annulartracks' with the ends of the inner and outer s'hells; bearing elements ar-' ranged between the'co-actiing tracks and contacting with t-he oppositely 2 arranged oblique faces to preventperceptible"lateral and longitudinal movement of one shell with respect to the other; and a Wheel rotatably connected with the outer shell.

2. A steering axle; comprising an inner substantially vertical substantially cylindrical shell having upper and lower'substantially horizontal ends," the ends being provided with retaining flanges; an outer substantially vertical substantially cylindrical shell receiving the inner' shell and having a larger interior diameter than the exterior diameter of the inner shell to provide a permanent space therebetween and having upper and lower substantially horizontal ends,

which are in turn provided with retaining.

flange's pairs of co-acting annular tracks arranged between the adjacent ends of'the inner and outer shells and interfittinggwith 13s the retaining flanges to have rigid conneeupon the spindleflmd bearing'elements be- 10 tion with the shells and located near their tween the Wheel and spindle. I

peripheries, the co-acting tracks being op- In testimony whereof I affix my signature positely arranged bearing elements arin presence of two, Witnesses. 5 ranged between the opposed tracks and con- FRANK J SULLIVAN tacting with the tracks for preventing perceptible lateral movement of one shell with Witnesses:

respect to the other; a spindle attached to JULIUS PRENzLow, the outer shell; a Wheel rotatably mounted W. H, FINNEY. 

